Channel key plate



May 17, 1932. c, LORBER 1,858,915?

CHANNEL KEY PLATE Filed July 8, 1931 I [liven/o2 I (War/e orfier y J/lonzey Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES CHARLES LORBER, OF LOUTSVILLE, KENTUCKY CHANNEL KEY PLATE Application filed July 8, 1931. Serial No, 549,509.

This invention relates to key-cases such as are used for enclosing a number of keys so that they can be conveniently carried in ones pocket.

More particularly the invention relates to a metal plate and swivels for holding the key hooks of such a key-case.

In several forms of key-cases the case itself is made of leather, either lined or unlined and has a central body and two foldable edge flaps or covers. A metal plate is fixed to the upper end of the body and carries swivels which in turn support key hooks. In some of the forms, as in the patent to George E. Prentice, No. 1,808,484, the upper part of the metal plate is formed to produce a channel open at the back, this channel being closed by the material of the case itself. This forwardly projecting upper edge is slotted and through each slot extends the shank of the respective swivel, the end of the shank in the channel being headed like a rivet to prevent the swivel from pulling out of its slot. Under these conditions movement of the swivel causes rubbing contact between its head and the material of the case proper and this results in wear of the material. In the lined cases this wear quickly destroys the lining at these contact points and is therefore highly 30 objectionable.

One principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel plate and swivel arrangement wherein the heads of the swivels will at all times be prevented from contact with the material of the case proper.

The open channel arrangement shown in Prentice is advantageous because of the ease with which access is obtained to the ends of the swivel shanks for heading.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel plate and swivel arrangement wherein the swivel heads will lie in an open channel and yet be prevented from engagement with the body of the case.

With the above and other obiects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings Q and specifically claimed. 1

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and: 5

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the im- 5 proved device and its case with the latter shown in opened position.

'Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the plate removed from the case and show ing one of the swivels used therewith.

Figure 3 is a section'on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown there is provideda case of some suitable material such as leather and this case has a central or body portion 10 and side flaps or wings 11 which are folded over in front of the body in overlapping relation upon it being desired to close the case. These wings are provided with coacting snap button parts 12 to hold the wings releasably in closed position.

Fixed to the upper end of the body 10 is a metallic plate having a body portion 13 secured to the body 10 by rivets 14 which pass through holes 15 in the plate. The upper edge of this plate is bent forwardly and then downwardly as: at 16 to lie in front of and parallel to the plate body 13. Slots 17 are formed in this upper portion of the plate and terminate close to the bend at their rear ends and in spaced relation to the lower edge of the portion 1.6 at their front ends. Thus the upper part of the metallic plate forms: a downwardly opening or inverted U-shaped channel 18 lying, whollyin front of the body of the plate.

Swivel eyes 19 have their shanks extending through respective slots 17 and are provided with heads 20 within the channel. By reason of the channel being open the mechanical operation of heading these rivets may be accomplished with case while, since the 7 heads are in the channel and the channel 5 wholly in front of the plate body, contact between these heads and the body 10 is positively prevented thus entirely eliminating wear from this source.

Key hooks 21 of the usual type are carried 10o by these swivel eyes and support hooks 22 in the usual manner.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a key case, a key plate formed of a metallic plate having a body adapted to be secured to the body of the case, said plate having its upper portion bent forwardly and downwardly to form a portion parallel to the upper part of the body, said forwardly and downwardly bent portion being provided with a series of laterally spaced parallel slots, the upper part of said body and said forwardly and downwardly bent portion forming an inverted U-shaped channel open at the bottom and positioned wholly in front of the body, and swivel eyes having shanks extending through the respective slots and provided with heads located in said channel and protected by the body from contact with the material of the case to which the plate is secured.

2. In a key case, a key plate formed of a metallic plate having a body adapted to be secured to the body of the case, said plate having its upper portion bent forwardly and downwardly to form a portion parallel to the upper part of the body, said forwardly and downwardly bent portion being provided with a series of spaced openings, the upper part of said body and said forwardly and downwardly bent portion forming an inverted U-shaped channel open at the bottom and positioned wholly in front of the body, and swivel eyes having a shank extending through the respective openings and movable therein, and provided with heads located in said channel and protected by the body from contact with the material of the case to which the plate is secured.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES LORBER. 

